Dan (Dan Berkey) suffers from schizophrenic episodes, but he’s in the process of recovering. However, when one day he takes a trip to a local church, he has an unusual episode. In this quiet chapel Dan struggles to understand what’s real and what is a figment of his own imagination. Among the individuals that sit in the chapel is The Red Haired Lady, and she may be the key to Dan’s sanity.
I won’t lie, it took me some time to understand The Red Haired Lady. I had to go back and attempt to dissect the short film in new ways, because at first this seemed like a straight-forward story about a man struggling with his mental health. However, after a closer look at the journey that Dan embarks on throughout The Red Haired Lady, it became clear that his mental state is representative of anyone and everyone who struggles with mental and/or emotional troubles. Whether it’s depression, schizophrenia, or something else entirely, the way in which Dan’s character is written allows viewers to understand and appreciate his plights.
As I replayed the narrative in my head over and over again, I came to realize that Dan represents all of mankind. Whether we admit it to ourselves, others, or no one at all, each and every one of us faces struggle(s) throughout the course of our lives. We all handle things differently, but Dan sees things, hears things, and is unable to fully come to terms with the things happening around him. The Red Haired Lady, through Dan, aims to not only enlighten viewers on the struggles and the importance of our mental health, but to express to those viewers that they are not alone. As The Red Haired Lady plays out, I felt connected to the protagonist, and I believed, if even for a split second, that I’ve been in his shoes before. The ability of Berkey (whose story The Red Haired Lady is based on) and Writer-Director Chelese Belmont to create a character that can resonate with everyone is so impressive, and it’s a testament not to just how talented they are, but how passionate they are about the subject.
The reason that The Red Haired Lady can be difficult to dissect is because I’m not sure that the majority of people are able to admit to themselves that they struggle with their mental health (and certainly not on this level), allowing aspects of the narrative to escape them. When watching the film you do what you can to absorb the information and appreciate what is being said and done, but there is something lying beneath the surface of the film that begs viewers to dig deeper and look for some hidden meaning. Those hidden messages exist throughout the entirety of the film, and they are encouraging for viewers. We get to see that we aren’t alone, but even better than that, as the film inches closer to its conclusion, there’s a moment of epiphany when viewers understand, regardless of their mental health, they aren’t crazy.
There is an interesting juxtaposition between simplicity and sophistication. The aesthetic of The Red Haired Lady is simplistic, but the deep dive into the trials and tribulations of our mental health is sophisticated and well-designed. There’s a genuine understanding of the subject present throughout the film, and viewers are taken on a thrilling and informative ride that is sure to entertain.
The Red Haired Lady is a unique experience that may be heartbreaking to some and thrilling to others. Belmont puts her foot on the emotional gas and never relents, and the film is wonderfully relevant as a result. Through the tremendous acting, the simple visuals, and the in-depth look at the human mind, The Red Haired Lady is truly incredible, and quite possibly the film we all need right now.
Written & Directed by Chelese Belmont.
Starring Dan Berkey, Chelsea Belmont, Javier Molina, Jeanne Joe Perrone, Brandon Scott Johnson, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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